Sam Filkins serves as the Vice President of the Knox County Area Development Foundation (ADF), an independent non-profit economic development organization, a role he took on after spending ten years in higher education administration. As part of his work with ADF, Sam focuses on enhancing community capacity in areas such as housing, grant writing, vibrancy, and community partnerships. He also directs the efforts of the Knox County Land Bank, which serves as an extension of the county's economic development toolkit. Sam holds a Development Finance Certified Professional (DFCP) designation through the Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA), which allows him to develop creative funding solutions in various contexts. Above all, he is committed to preserving the rural character of his community while driving its growth and development.